Assessment of human-wildlife co-existence strategies adopted by communities living in and around Queen Elizabeth National Park

Abstract

Human-wildlife co-existence is a prerequisite for protected area conservation. Many studies have been carried out on human-wildlife conflict and local communities’ exploitation of protected areas resources besides a long established practice of community-based conservation by Uganda Wildlife Authority. However, there has been limited information to deepen the understanding and broaden knowledge on human-wildlife co-existence so as to bolster the strategies used by local communities and UWA. To fill this gap, a study was carried out in Queen Elizabeth National Park to generate information that can enhance the co-existence between wildlife and local communities. Specifically, the study examined the benefits obtained by the adjacent communities from the park and how the people co-existed with wild animals. A cross sectional research design with qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection was adopted. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect data from 309 respondents randomly sampled from Kyambura, Katwe, Kazinga and Muhokya parishes surrounding the park. Questionnaire responses were edited, coded and entered in the STATA 15 to create data file and later used to generate statistical summary. Qualitative information from key informant interviews was summarized and presented as a narrative. Results show that the local communities benefited from the park in a number of ways. They caught different fish types especially tilapia from Lake Edward and Lake George, harvested wild food plants and obtained bush meat from hippopotamus and Uganda kob that were top listed. It was also noted that different tribes preferred different types of bush meat. For example, the Basongora liked rabbit meat; the Congolese chose monkey meat while the Bakonjo preferred meat of hippopotamus. Local people also harvested herbal medicines mainly the leaves, roots and bark of a number of plants especially Kigelia africana, Aloe vera and Mondia whitei. Body parts of elephants, lions and hippopotamus were reportedly used for treatment of a number of ailments including wounds, mental illness, cancer, epilepsy, tuberculosis, skin rush, cough and many others. The local people also collected water from the park for washing, cooking, watering home garden vegetables and livestock. Furthermore, local people exploited non-timber forest products and were employed in the park as well as in tourism related enterprises. Human-wildlife coexistence strategies adopted included digging deep and wide trenches to bar non-jumping animals from crossing from the park onto the farmlands and settlements, establishment of apiaries particularly to deter elephants from leaving the park, sprinkling of red pepper powder on the park’s boundary and construction of crocodile cages to protect human when collecting water. Based on the results, an integrated and community-based approach to manage the park’s resources is recommended and future studies should quantify the benefits of human-wildlife coexistence in the park.